ADC assists Airmen with administrative actions

23rd Wing Public Affairs
Story by Airman 1st Class Jasmine Barnes

Date: 12.04.2019
Posted: 12.13.2019 14:25
News ID: 355642

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. –
Being called into a supervisor’s office to receive corrective action is something that no Airman should take lightly.

Moody’s Area Defense Counsel provides professional legal defense services for military members facing administrative actions to ensure they know their rights and keep positive control over their career.

“Our job is to defend our Airmen, and by taking that stress off of them when there’s an investigation or article pending against them, they’re able to focus on the Air Force mission,” said Maj. Vernisha Taylor, Moody’s area defense counsel. “You don’t know what you don’t know. We’re there for you to come to us so we can help you find out what you don’t know. It is 100 percent confidential. When [someone] comes in here we help them out, and our lips are sealed.”

The ADC is here to help Airmen with any kind of administrative actions such as Letters of Reprimand, demotion actions, reenlistment denials and flying evaluation boards. If an Airman needs defense assistance, they will not be turned away.

“Anything that is adverse to the member that affects them in their military capacity, we can help with,” Taylor said. “When someone comes in here, they need to be prepared to be truthful and 100 percent honest with us. This is a judgment-free zone.”

To prevent conflict of interest, the ADC is a tenant unit that has a separate chain of command outside the 23d Wing. This allows Airmen to be completely transparent and have the confidentiality they deserve.

“Even if you don’t want to use the ADC services, you can still come and do the initial consultation with us, so we can give you advice on what you should and shouldn’t do,” Taylor said. “If you choose not to use our advice, that’s your choice, but at least you haven’t shot yourself in the foot by not going to the ADC from the beginning. “If anybody gets paperwork, come to us immediately.”

For Senior Airman Darrius Baxter, 23d Logistics Readiness Squadron fleet management and analysis specialist, the ADC has been a positive force in aiding him to respond to an administrative action.

“I came to the ADC because I needed help writing a rebuttal,” Baxter said. “[Taylor] said her mission was to help Airmen since [the ADC doesn’t] work for a squadron. They help Airmen fight their cases that they’re accused of. The ADC is a place where they use their expertise to help Airmen overcome circumstances that are out of their control.”

Many Airmen do not know their rights. The ADC’s responsibility is to ensure Airmen’s rights are not violated.

For more information, visit the ADC office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or call 229-257-3421.